As we near the end of 2013, it’s time to look back on the incredible accomplishments of the past year to drive progress for girls and women. From Women’s Deliver’s biggest and brightest global conference to-date to significant progress made in increasing access to family planning and in developing a new global framework that priorities girls and women, this year has been monumental. Advocates from around the world and across sectors joined together to evaluate current and past efforts, analyze lessons learned, and look towards a brighter future. Read more...

By: Juany Garcia Perez and Emily Teitsworth; Originally posted on The Guardian

How did 15 adolescent girls transform a community of over 26,000 people and a nation of 14 million? They started by simply sharing their stories. Many of us who work in international development are suspicious of interventions that are not exclusively data-driven, preferring quantitative analysis to the subjective nature of storytelling. However, when advocating with government decision-makers, a compelling story is often a more effective tool than a spreadsheet or a report. Read more...

The incredible activists, doctors, journalists, teachers, business leaders, politicians, and other honorees on the “Women Deliver 100” list of the people delivering for girls and women are continuing to inspire public and policymakers from around the world and shine a spotlight on the world’s most pressing women’s issues. Read more...

Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. When we think about how far women have come in the past 50 years, let alone the last 100, we are amazed at the power of women to make a better future for themselves. But, our work isn’t over yet – we have to keep fighting and keep pushing to reach full gender equality and equity.

To both celebrate how far we’ve come, and the even greater potential for the future, CARE is chronicling the advances and struggles of women by releasing the “Top 10 Myths about Women.” For each myth, CARE will take a look back and honor a “myth-buster” who did something remarkable to dispel that particular piece of female folklore during the last 100 years. Each myth also will come with a second “myth-buster,” someone who is positioned to lead the way in disproving the myth in the future. Read more...

By: Jill Sheffield, president and founder of Women Deliver, originally posted on the ONE Blog

This week, Women Deliver announced the “Women Deliver 100,” a list of the top 100 people in the world – men and women, young and old – who are delivering for women. When I read the stories of the individuals honored, I am overcome with inspiration and gratitude. These are some of the most intrepid and committed people in the world, who are dedicated to improving the lives of girls and women…at many costs. These are people who get that girls and women make the world go round, and that investing in them – prioritizing them, protecting their rights, telling their stories – pays. Read more...